Monday, July 9, 2012

Siobhan Eviston defends 800m title

Eviston just after the race

Siobhan Eviston gave her critics something to think about this weekend - defending her 800m title in great style at the National Track and Field Championships yesterday.

It was a pretty miserable day - as you can see in the picture there anyone not racing was well wrapped up! But Eviston stuck to her plan, ran a great tactical race and burned everyone off in the final straight. Her time of 2:06:52 was outside her personal best for this distance but well clear of the rest of the rest of the field.

And in the end, that is all that counts. Really happy for her as so many people thought last year's victory was a fluke, brilliant to show exactly how hard she works. (and yes, I do know her outside of athletics *diclaimer*)

Of course lots of other races over the two-day meet, with so many athletes looking for that last-gasp Olympic moment.

Joanne Cuddihy - already heading to London for the 400m and the 4 x 400m relay - won the 400m in 51:89. And drama for her sister Caitriona who had been named on the relay team but a successful appeal by Joanna Mills meant a change-over there. Very upsetting for both women, really Athletics Ireland need to get their house in order.

But hurdler Deval O'Rourke had to pull out of her race after an old injury acted-up during the warm-up. She blogged it last night, seems like she will be ok, read her post here if, like me, you're hoping she will have a great Olympics.